You have come across the term meditation before, of course you have, but do you really comprehend its true meaning. There are many forms of meditation to achieve its purpose, but what is that? and what can it really do for you? Can meditation improve your life, offer you a sense of peace, of connection, and fulfilment?
If you are new to the world of meditation, keep reading because, in this article, we will be exploring the truth behind meditation, what it can do for you and why you should start practising meditation.
A Beginners Guide to Meditation
Please note: This blog post contains affiliate links.
First of all, let’s begin by exploring why we should meditate…
Why meditation is important in our lives
“Quiet the mind and let the soul speak” – Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati
Meditation has been practised in many different forms, yet all seeking to attain the same purpose, for thousands of years. Only in the present day, with our use of technology and ever-evolving structure of science, we are able to determine exactly why it is so valuable as a practice.
Let’s look further into the benefits of meditation;
Physically;
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Decreases pain
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Boosts immunity
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Lowers blood pressure
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Reduces heart risk
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Eases inflammation
Mentally;
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Physically changes the brain
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Reduces depression
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Eases stress and anxiety
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Helps us to sleep
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Cultivates willpower
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Boosts cognitive function
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Build focus and concentration
Spiritually;
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Build self-knowledge
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Increases compassion
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Improves empathy
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Facilitates spiritual development
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Develops creativity, intuition and wisdom
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Develops courage peace and joy
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Activates higher levels of consciousness
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Develops a deeper understanding of the self, and the true nature of reality.
Think about each of the points listed above, because they are all true. Practising meditation can really help to attain each of the items above. It is so simple and yet clever…
Ready to learn how you can achieve the above points in your own life, by learning more about what meditation is?
What is meditation?
This is what people are saying:
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“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally”. – John Kabat-Zinn
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“When we meditate, on a metaphysical level, it can be likened to taking an energy shower.”
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“Meditation is the means to fully educate a man” – Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
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“Meditation is the key to the process of increasing awareness”
Although there are many different types of meditation such as; mindfulness, transcendental, sound etc. There are also many techniques that can be utilized in a practice, such as tools, visuals, movement etc. There is one main purpose and goal in meditating, and that is…
A state of deep peace that is attained when the mind is silent or focused on one simple thing, and in the present moment.
Basically, with meditation the intention is to relax and still the body, relax and quieten the mind, then stay in that state in the present moment.
What meditation is not…
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A religion; you can practice meditation no matter what religion you are. There are certain religions where you meditate, but meditation itself is not a religion.
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Sitting quietly thinking about daily tasks, what you need to do etc.
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Sitting quietly thinking about meditating
How long should I meditate for?
“You should sit and meditate for 20 minutes every day- unless your too busy. Then you should sit for an hour” -Zen quote
When beginning your journey to practising meditation, any amount of time that you spend meditating is great. If you begin by incorporating a simple 1-minute meditation in the morning, and then again before bed in the evening, then that is 2 minutes more of meditating that you would do than none at all.
It is important to remember that any amount of time spent meditating will benefit you.
If possible, it is good practice to aim to meditate for a certain amount of time each day, such as 20 minutes meditation a day. This is because, naturally if you want to improve in a practice and attain the benefits from it, the longer you practice the easier and better it will become. There are people who dedicate hours to practice meditation each day, on the contrary, there are others who are content with a few minutes a day.
Everybody is different and no one is the same. The best way to approach your journey is by dedicating a certain amount of time that you are able to dedicate per day/ week, and by carrying this out with an open relaxed mind.
Further reading on meditation
I trust that this article has given you an insight into what meditation is and what you can achieve for yourself through meditating.
If you would like some further online reading, check out these great articles below;
I have mentioned some points above such as different types of meditation, which I will share in greater depth in a separate post. Please let me know in the comments below whether this article has been useful for you, and whether you have any questions. Would you like to read more about a certain type of meditation?
Meanwhile, I have included below some links to some fabulous books and items to help with your practice. I have also included some links where you can listen to and purchase some original relaxing meditative music.
Useful meditation items
Original Meditative Music
With bright blessings,
Namaste
Emily
